Khertvisi Fortress
Date of foundation: X century
Condition: good
Status: Architectural Monument
Khertvisi Fortress is located at the confluence of the Kura River with its tributary Paravani. The fortress is one of the oldest in Georgia, but despite this it is very well preserved in comparison with other fortresses in the country.
In 1283 a strong earthquake occurred on the territory, as a result of which most of the fortress was destroyed. In 985 a new church was built on the site of the old buildings. Khertvisi is located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and in the 10th – 11th centuries it became the center of the region, then became a city. During the war in the 13th century, the fortress was almost completely destroyed by the Mongols, and only in the 15th century was the fortress restored and it became the property of the rulers of the Jakeli dynasty.
The fortress has two levels – upper and lower. The upper level has been preserved and has reached us. Many of the buildings on the upper level date back to the 10th – 14th centuries.
Currently, Khertvesi is an architectural monument of Georgia and a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO list. Every year, many tourists from the CIS countries and Europe visit, as one of the oldest witnesses to the history of Georgia,
